Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Oral Answers to Questions

Julie Elliott Excerpts
Thursday 21st March 2013

(11 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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I gather that the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr Skinner) was banging on about car salesmen and his disapproval of the answer. If he would like to apply for an Adjournment debate, there is always a sympathetic ear; let us see what is available for him.

Julie Elliott Portrait Julie Elliott (Sunderland Central) (Lab)
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The proportion of workplaces that have some employees on zero-hours contracts has increased massively in recent years with some 23% of companies having more than 100 employees using them. What are the Government going to do to regulate those contracts, which confer fewer employment rights and cause considerable financial uncertainty for workers?

Jo Swinson Portrait Jo Swinson
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The UK employment and labour market is flexible, which can be helpful. For some employees, zero-hours contracts can be helpful. Clearly, where there is abuse happening, it should be clamped down on. That is certainly what the Government will make sure is done.